UK avoids recession but that's cold comfort amid Brexit cloud
by Larry Elliott Economics editor from on (#4TZG5)
There was little good news in the ONS's latest growth figures
After a tough spring, the economy returned to growth in the summer and early autumn - but only just. The slowest annual rate of expansion in almost a decade poses an obvious question: is the glass half empty or half full?
Actually, it's about a third full at best. There were really only two pieces of good news for the government in the latest bulletin from the Office for National Statistics: the economy avoided two consecutive quarters of negative activity - the technical definition of a recession - and there was a bounceback in construction. Other than that, it was slim pickings.
Related: UK avoids recession but Brexit uncertainty damages growth
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